One-piece perforated enclosed coupon envelope



1969 R. D. ALLISON 3,426,961

ONE-PIECE PERFORATED ENCLOSED COUPON ENVELOPE Filed Feb. 2, 1968INVENTORY ROBERT D. ALLISON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 9 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An envelope and a coupon or the like enclosedby the envelope are made from a single blank of paper or other similarsheet material. The envelope blank includes a main rectangular panel andfour flaps, to one of which flaps the coupon is attached by a line ofperforations. The flaps are folded relative to the main panel and sealedto form an envelope within which the coupon is contained and entirelyconcealed. The blank includes other perforations which register with theline of perforations attaching the coupon to the remainder of the blank,so that by tearing the sealed envelope along a single line ofperforations the envelope is opened and the coupon simultaneouslydetached for ready removal by its user.

Background of the invention This invention relates to envelopes formedby folding cut blanks of paper or other sheet material, and deals moreparticularly with a coupon envelope wherein the envelope serves tocontain and conceal an attached coupon, stamps, advertising slip orother similar item such as used, for example, in connection withpromotional games or contests of the type often used in retailmerchandising.

The envelope of this invention is in many respects similar to that shownin my co-pending application Ser. No. 557,798, filed June 15, 1966, nowPatent No. 3,374,- 940, entitled Envelopes With Integral DetachableCoupons Contained Therein this invention being directed to improvementsin such envelope.

The general object of the invention is to provide a sealed envelopecontaining an integral concealed coupon or the like, which envelope maybe readily opened by tearing along a line of perforations with thisopening procedure also serving to sever the attached coupon from theenvelope, the coupon remaining in the opened envelope for removal by theindividual who opened the envelope, thereby revealing it and informationprinted on it.

Summary of the invention The invention resides in an envelope andenclosed coupon formed from a single blank of paper or other sheetmaterial. The blank includes a rectangular main panel defined by fourfold lines and four flaps connected with the main panel along the fourfold lines. A coupon is attached to the first flap along a weakened lineextending thereacross. The first flap with its attached coupon is foldedalong its fold line to bring it and the coupon into immediate overlyingrelationship with the main panel, and the other three flaps arethereafter folded over the coupon and first flap, and sealed to thefirst fiap and to one another, to form the sealed envelope. In oneembodiment the flap opposite from the first flap is of such a length asto extend beyond the weakened line connecting the coupon to the firstflap, and directly overlies the coupon and first flap and is sealed tothe first flap, the other two flaps being relatively narrow flapsopposed to one another and sealed to the second flap. In anotherembodiment the flap opposite from the first flap is a relatively narrowflap and one of the other two flaps is a relatively wide flap which issealed to the first and second flaps, the fourth flap also being arelatively narrow flap located opposite from the third flap and sealedto the latter. In both embodiments, the main panel and the flaps whichoverlie the weakened line between the coupon and the first flap are alsoweakened along lines in registry with such weakened line so that intearing along these lines, the envelope may be opened readily and thecoupon simultaneously separated from the first fiap.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a view of one face of asealed envelope embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the reverse face of the envelope of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the unfolded blank used in making the envelopeof FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view generally similar to FIG. 4 but shows the first flap ofthe blank folded along its fold line.

FIG. 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 5 but shows the second flapof the blank folded along its fold line.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank used in making an envelope comprisinganother embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing one face of an envelope made from the blank ofFIG. 7.

Description of the preferred embodiments Turning to the drawings, FIGS.1, 2 and 3 show a sealed envelope 10 embodying this invention, FIG. 4shows a blank 12 used in making the envelope 10, and FIGS. 5 and 6 showthe blank 12 in two successive stages of folding employed in forming theblank 12 into the envelope 10. As will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2,the envelope 10 is of a simple rectangular shape and includes a band 14of perforations, slits or other weakening means extending completelytherearound to enable the top portion 16 to be readily removed from thelarger bottom portion 18 by tearing along the band 14. As will be moreevident from consideration of the blank 12 shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6,the envelope 10 also includes an enclosed coupon which is detached fromthe remainder of the envelope as the top portion 16 is torn from thebottom portion 18.

Considering FIG. 4, the blank 12, from which the en- Velope 10 is made,includes a main rectangular panel 20 defined by first and second foldlines 2 2 and 24, arranged parallel to one another, and third and fourthfold lines .26 and 28 arranged parallel to one another and perpendicularto the first and second ifold lines 22 and 24. Connected with the mainpanel along the first fold line 22 is a first flap 30, and connectedwith this flap along a weakened line 32, formed by perforations orslits, is a coupon 34. As used herein, the term coupon is used to referto any type of extension which may be integrally connected with thefirst flap 30. This coupon may, among other things, be either a singleunitary item or may, as indicated in FIG. 4, be divided into a number ofother separate areas or pieces, such as indicated at 36, 36, by otherlines of slits or perforations. The pieces 36, 36 may, for example, bestamps or slips which are separable from one another and used as part ofa bingo or matching type game. iRem-oistenable adhesive may also beapplied to one side of the coupon 34 to allow it or its divisions to beattached to another surface such as that of a separate game sheet. Inthe making of the envelope 10, the first flap 30 and the attached coupon32 are first folded along the first fold line '22 to bring the flap andcoupon into immediate overyling relationship with the main panel 20, asshown in FIG. 5. The coupon 34 is unfolded relative to the flap aboutthe weakened line 32 and the combined dimensions of the coupon and flapare such that they are confined within the boundaries of the main panel20 when folded to the condition of FIG. 5.

Connected to the main panel 20 along the second fold line 24 is a secondflap 38, and connected along the third and fourth fold lines 26 and 28are third and fourth flaps 31 and 33, respectively. Extending across themain panel 20 and the third and fourth flaps 31 and 33 is a secondweakened line 35 spaced from the :fold line 22 by the same distance asthe spacing between the first weakened line 32 and the fold line :22 sothat these weakened lines register with one another when the first flapis folded as in FIG. 5. The second flap 38 is a relatively wide one andhas dimensions measured perpendicular to the fold line 24 such that itextends beyond the registered weakened lines 32 and 35 when folded aboutits fold line 24, as indicated in FIG. 6. At the outer end of the secondflap 38 is a weakened line 40 which is spaced from the first fold line24 by a distance equal to the spacing of the weakened line 35 from thefold line 24 so that when the flap 38 is folded to the condition shownin FIG. 6 the weakened line 40 registers with the two other weakenedlines 32 and 35.

The other two flaps 31 and 33 are relatively narrow flaps, and incompleting the finished envelopes, they are folded about theirassociated fold lines 26 and 28, from the position shown in FIG. 6, intooverlying relationship with the second flap 38 as shown in FIG. 1. Theweakened lines 32, 35 and 40, therefore, together make up the weakenedband 14 of FIGS. 1 and 2 Suitable seal means are provided for sealingthe four flaps 30, 31, 33 and 38 to one another, and in the illustratedcase this means consists of two strips 42, 42 of adhesive applied to thetwo narrow flaps 3'1 and 33 and another strip 43 of adhesive applied tothe outer end portion of the flap 38. The adhesive strip 43 seals thesecond flap 38 to the first flap 30 and the adhesive strips 42, 42 sealthe two narrow flaps 31 and 32 to the second flap 38.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 7showing a blank 44 and FIG. 8 showing an envelope 45 made from theblank. Similarly to the blank 12 of FIG. 4, the blank 44 includes a mainpanel 46 defined by four fold lines 47, 48, 49 and 50. Four flaps 52,54, 56 and 58 are connected to the main panel 44 along the fold lines47, 48, 49 and 50 respectively. The first flap 52 is generally similarto first flap 30 of FIG. 4 and has integrally attached to it, along aweakened line 60, a coupon 62. The second flap 54 located opposite fromthe flap 52 is, however, a relatively narrow flap, as measuredperpendicular to its fold line 48, and the flap 58 is a relatively wideflap, the two opposed flaps 56 and 58 being of such relative sizes thatwhen both are folded about their fold lines 49 and 50 they overlap oneanother. The blank 44 also includes a weakened line 64, formed byperforations, slits or the like, extending entirely across the mainpanel 46 and the flaps 56 and 58 and spaced from the fold line 47 by adistance equal to a spacing of the weakened line 60 therefrom so thatwhen the flap 52 is folded about the fold line 47 the weakened line 60registers with the weakened line '64.

In the making of the envelope 45 from the blank 44, the flap 52 is firsttfolded about the fold line 47 to bring itand the coupon 62 intooverlying relationship with the main panel 46, the coupon remainingunfolded relative to the first flap 52 about its weakened line 60.Thereafter, the second flap 54 is folded about its fold line 48, thewide flap 58 is then [folded about its fold line 50, and lastly the flap56 is folded about its fold line 49 into overlapping relationship withthe flap 58.

Suitable sealing means are provided for holding the flaps in theirfolded condition. As shown in FIG. 7,

this seal means includes two strips 66, 66 of adhesive on the flap 58and another strip 68 of adhesive on the flap 56. The two strips '66, 66on the flap 58 respectively engage and seal with the first flap 52 andthe second flap 54, and the adhesive strip 68 on the flap 56 sealinglyengages the fiap 58.

From a consideration of FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be obvious that theenvelope 45 may be opened .by tearing its left-hand portion 70 from theright-hand portion 72 along the line 64, the coupon 62 beingsimultaneously detached from the first flap 52 by a concurrent tearingalong the weakened line 60. When the portion 70 is completely removedfrom the portion 72, the portion 72 will contain the coupon .62 whichmay thereafter be readily removed from this portion for inspection anduse by the person opening the envelope.

I claim:

1. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon which envelope and couponare made from a single blank of sheet material, said envelope and couponcomprising a single blank of sheet material including a rectangular mainpanel defined by first and second parallel fold lines and third andfourth fold lines parallel to one another and perpendicular to saidfirst and second fold lines, first, second, third and fourth flapsconnected to said main panel along said first, second, third and fourthfold lines respectively, a coupon attached to said first flap along afirst weakened line parallel to and spaced from said first fold line,said blank also having a second weakened line extending across saidthird and fourth flaps and said main panel which second weakened line isparallel to said first fold line and spaced therefrom by the samedistance as said first weakened line, said first flap being folded aboutsaid first fold line to bring said first flap and said coupon intoimmediate overlying relationship with said main panel and said first andsecond weakened lines into registry with one another, said coupon beingunfolded about said first weakened line so as to be disposed in the sameplane as said flap and said coupon and said flap having combineddimensions no greater than those of said main panel so as to be locatedentirely within the edges of said main panel, said second flap beingfolded about said second fold line, and said third and fourth flapsbeing folded about said third and fourth fold lines with said first andsecond flaps sandwiched between said third and fourth flaps and saidmain panel, said flaps being of such relative sizes as to completelycover said coupon, and means for sealing said flaps to one another.

2. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 1further characterized by said second flap having a dimension measuredperpendicular to said second fold line greater than the spacing betweenthe said second fold line and said second weakened line so as to extendbeyond said second weakened line, said second flap overlying said couponand said first fiap and having a third weakened line extendingthereacross in registry with said first and second weakened lines.

3. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 2further characterized by said third and fourth flaps having dimensionsmeasured perpendicular to said third and fourth fold lines equal to lessthan half the distance between the said third and fourth fold lines, andsaid means for sealing said flaps to one another comprising adhesivemeans adhesively securing said second flap to said first flap andadhesive means adhesively securing each of said third and fourth flapsto said second flap.

4. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 1further characterized by said third and fourth flaps having suchdimensions as measured perpendicular to said third and fourth fold lineas to overlap one another, and said means for sealing said flaps to oneanother including means for sealing at least a part of the portions ofsaid third and fourth flaps which overlie said first and second flaps tosaid first and second flaps and means for sealing the overlappedportions of said third and fourth flaps to one another.

5. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 4further characterized 'by said second flap having a dimension measuredperpendicular to said second fold line substantially less than thedistance between said second fold line and said second weakened line.

6. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon which envelope and couponare made from a single blank of sheet material, said evelope and couponcomprising a single blank of sheet material including a rectangular mainpanel defined by first and second parallel fold lines and third andfourth fold lines parallel to one another and perpendicular to saidfirst and second fold lines, first, second, third and fourth flapsconnected to said main panel along said first, second, third and fourthfold lines respectively, a coupon attached to said first flap along aweakened line parallel to and spaced from said first fold line, saidfirst flap being folded about said first fold line to bring said firstflap and said coupon into immediate overlying relationship with saidmain panel, said coupon being unfolded about said first weakened line soas to be disposed in the same plane as said flap and said flap and saidcoupon having combined dimensions no greater than those of said mainpanel so as to be located entirely Within the edges of said main panel,said second flap being folded about said second fold line into immediateoverlying relationship with said coupon and having such a dimensionmeasured perpendicular to said second fold line as to extend beyond saidweakened line and overlie at least a portion of said first flap, meanssealing said second flap to said first flap, said third and fourth flapsbeing folded about said third and fourth fold lines into overlyingrelationship with said second flap, and seal means for sealing saidthird and fourth flaps in their folded conditions.

7. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 6further characterized by said seal means for sealing said third andfourth flaps in their folded condition comprising means for sealing eachof said third and fourth flaps to said second flap.

-8. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 7further characterized by each of said third and fourth flaps having adimension measured perpendicular to said third and fourth fold linesequal to less than half the spacing between said third and fourth foldlines.

9. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as de fined in claim 8further characterized by said main panel, and said second, third andfourth flaps having weakened lines extending thereacross in registrywith said weakened line between said coupon and said first flap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,840,295 6/1958 Fromm 2297O3,062,431 11/1962 Rabenold 229-73 3,181,774 5/1965 Littman 229- DAVID M.BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

